64. New Beginnings

"There are Exel folders left in soft copy in the main company computer. You can use it for reference since they are easy to skim through."

"I'm looking at them right now, but I feel the reports only provide me with additional research material."

"Funny how I still can remember where everything is after leaving for over a year." Ari chuckled and stood from his chair when he heard a knock at his office door. He knew his time was almost imminent for a weekly meeting he was to spectate between his staff. "How about you make the presentation in Powerpoint. Less words means more visuals and people tend to respond well to that."

"Are you rushing out? You seem to be walking."

"I just had a meeting with a referral client this afternoon, and another in waiting presently."

"You must be having a busy day then. Thank you for taking my call regardless." Rey replied enthusiastically. 

"I'm done for the day brain wise. I fear I might find myself napping in this one." Ari replied passively. He seemed distracted, his cellphone stuck between his neck and ear while an impatient secretary kept gesturing at her wristwatch.

"We start in 15 minutes Manager Ari." She whispered.

Ari acknowledged her with a nod then gave her his back as he skimmed through a folder . "Mun will help you as well, but you can search the compressed parts from previous projects for guidance. They all use the same format"

"Where are they stored?"

"If you proceed to the company library, there is a small room labelled 'Office Library'."

"With printers and old filed records? Quite dusty I might say but I'll stay where I'm at. It's lunch break so no interns are hogging the common computer."

"Perfect. There is a folder I left for interns as a learning guide. You know most of the things by now but page 201 to page 358 should provide the materials you seek and more. When is your deadline though?"

There was a brief hesitation from Rey's side. He was smiling by himself, his thoughts on the last blissful days they'd spent together. Thankfully, Mun had let them have the apartment for a few days, while Esy and Ari's brother left for Rey's apartment. 'I'm really apologetic Manager Ari, but I'm not interested in whatever you're talking about right now. The realization that you and I are official makes me unable to calm down. It is that very reason that led me to ring you just to listen to your voice.'

"Are you still there?"

"Yes!" Rey cleared his throat and looked around the open office if other staff had returned from break. Thankfully, he was still alone. "P-Perhaps you can help me once we get home."

"I might run late. I have to go now."

"Wait...! A-Actually, I called not because I needed much of your help. I'm the one seeking to help you. You've been doing a lot of reading recently while in bed."

Ari sighed, sensing a familiar naughtiness. "Rey, I'm in the middle of work."

"I miss you."

"Timing Rey, timing."

"Let's move in together."

Ari's face dropped. He glanced back at his secretary and gestured at her to give him some privacy. She appeared reluctant to leave but eventually complied, closing the door behind her.

"It's not a ludicrous idea. We are dating now, aren't we?"

"Look, my meeting starts in less than ten minutes so let us talk about this when I get home."

"You don't have to kick Manager Mun out if that is what ou are worried about."

"Rey...." Ari hesitated, thinking how big of a step this was. Come to think of it, each of them was already introduced to their families, but some questions still lingered. Rey's debt. "What about your sister? Are you also still hosting my brother?"

"He's been staying at a hotel for some time now. He only returned when I was injured. As for my sister, I'll keep paying for the apartment until she finds a stable job with a better income."

"You seem to have thought this through, haven't you?"

"The idea has been weighing my mind after the meeting with my parents."

Ari let out a loud sigh and walked towards the door connecting his office to the secretary's. He rubbed his chin briefly and exhaled loudly upon hearing Rey giggling from the other end. "Why rush though? And why in the world does this seem to amuse you?"

"I've crossed far too many lines, wasted a lot of time to be dandling about." Rey replied then felt Ari's discomfort and wished to free him from it with a little tease. "I put something in your bag before you left today morning, an attempt to make you ready for me whenever the occasion called for it.

Ari's expression instantly flustered, his mind flashing back to the image of a packet of condoms. "Whatever made you do that?"

"Can you do me a favour?"

"No."

"You didn't even let me...!"

"I already know what you are going to say. We can play around all we want when I get home but work is work. I will not keep anything tempting inappropriate acts inside my office" Seeking to change the subject, Ari pointed out. "Aren't you supposed to be getting back to your research?"

"The deadline is far off."

"Then I'll hang up since you have nothing of importance to say."

"You mentioned the meeting does not require your participation, so let's go on a date at Yummyyum restaurant. We can keep the kinky stuff for the dark once everyone is gone."

Ari face became more flustered. The thought was tempting; in fact, he had fantasied about it a few times whenever Rey came over, but he didn't want to mix play with work. "My secretary is quite nosy and a fan of yours. I bet she has the mind to concur with you in this ludicrous mischief seeming that she snuck you in here multiple times against my warnings."

"A diligent ally deserves a good raise." Rey badgered and was glad when he heard his lover's laughter.

"I fear I'm tempted to surrender to your crudeness. I know you all enough to not let this matter slide; your audacity to keep johnnies in my bag."

"Nothing wrong with being prepared."

Ari giggled. He felt delighted and the temptation to skip the meeting kept growing by the minute. "I need to concentrate."

"The lengths you'll go to stay focused in that room, I wonder. Boned yet?"

"Good grief, I give up!" Ari said, throwing his hands in the air. "You need to pay up for making me like this."

Rey stood from his seat excitedly. 'Perhaps I'm a better negotiator than I had thought.'

"Another thing, your house is too small."

"It's not the old one we got down and dirty in."

"I know silly! You don't have to be so detailed. I'm just familiar with that neighborhood you presently stay in. There is a strict rule from the city council on matters concerning housing in that area. Moreover, aren't you and everyone else constantly hovering around my apartment?"

"That means we can never be alone then."

"Mun has his own apartment, a lavish one that he uses as a chick magnet. He only comes to stay with me whenever he wants to hide from his promiscuous life."

"I don't doubt that."

"Still, aren't you worried people might catch on us living as couples?"

"I'm aware you wish to maintain your privacy and I will try to respect that, but don't close friends also hold hands? Moreover, we have the right circle around us. We got support from my family so no-one else's thoughts matters."

"You are forgetting my brother."

"I understand the two of you will require more mending time, but if you give him the benefit of doubt as you did me, then the two of you can forge a long lasting relationship, one like my sister and I, or the friendship you have with Manager Mun."

"Wow. You are changing quite a lot these days it's hard to keep track. To think you were that arrogant brute just months ago, drunken to a stupor and sniffing my hair like a smitten pup on a valentine night."

Rey laughed, then spotted his colleagues coming into the open office. Lowering his voice, he whispered. "Perhaps we should consider moving in together to that old shackle of a place."

"Was it not haunted?" Ari caught on the sarcasm. "You mentioned the neighbors warning you of hearing voices in the darkest of nights."

"True, but this time, we'll give them something loud enough to horror over."

Ari laughed, then walked to where he'd placed his bag and hang it on his right shoulder. "You are an incurable rogue. I still wonder why I liked you to begin with."

"I still remember the words you told me that day, wishing for me to remain as timid and innocent. You must consider the current me a better package. Tall, valorous, masculine and resolute."

"Never." Ari chuckled, taking his car keys and strode towards the door. "I still see the same lost junior in collage with a funny conspicuous hat."

Rey scoffed, feeling a little disappointed and Ari caught on, enjoying the tease.

"Cheer up Mr Funny hat. I'll meet you at Yummyyum in thirty. Afterwards, we shall play around all we want